title: [Eating habits, physical activity and socioeconomic level in university students of Chile].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  University students are vulnerable to poor nutrition; they don't eat snacks between meals, don't eat breakfast or fast for long hours, prefer fast food and don't exercise. University students is considered the key young adult population group for health promotion and prevention for future generations, so it's crucial identify the current nutritional status and frequency of physical activity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the factors involved in the choice of food and frequency of physical activity in university students.
  
  
  METHODS
  799 volunteers were evaluated from four universities of the fifth region of Chile. Instrument was applied to determine the level of physical activity and eating habits, KIDMED test to determine adherence to the Mediterranean diet and Adimark instrument to determinate the socioeconomic status of the subjects. Finally, anthropometric evaluation to determinate BMI, fat mass and muscle mass.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physical inactivity is higher in women than in men and that the main reason for not exercising is lack of time and laziness. In both sexes don't read nutrition labels and have a low and average adherence to the Mediterranean diet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low knowledge of nutrition is the cause of the poor food quality of subjects and there isn't greater motivation to perform physical activity.Socioeconomic status isn't related to eating habits and physical activity. It's necessary to integrate programs regular and permanent healthy lifestyle in all universities.
authors.affiliation: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Avenida El Bosque, 1290, Santa Inés, Chile. fernando.rodriguez@ucv.cl
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Ximen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Palma
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romo
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Escobar
authors.forename: Bárbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aragú
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McMillan
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gálvez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult